The Jefferson County Commissioners Court wants residents to help determine whether to spend $2.5 million on buyouts or acquisitions.

Buyouts mean the county would purchase homes at pre-disaster fair market value and maintain the land. Acquisitions would allow the county to buy homes at post-disaster values, and it could sell the property as long as the future buyer agrees to build based on an updated flood plain.

“With acquisitions, you’re offering them what they could get from every other buyer,” said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick. “We just become a buyer.”

Aside from the upkeep bill that taxpayers get saddled with when the city acquires new property and other trickle-down costs, buyouts often are the best option for residents who need the assistance.

“We’ve done (buyouts) in the past,” Commissioner Brent Weaver said. “So it must have been a good thing in the past.”

However, the federal funding being sent through the General Land Office would likely pay for the buyout of only 10 to 20 homes flooded by Tropical Storm Harvey. That’s compared to post-Hurricane Ike funding, which Branick said could have paid for about 100 homes.

The majority of the commissioners seemed to be leaning toward acquisitions at a Monday workshop session largely because few residents have called the county interested in either program. And acquisitions carry lower long-term costs to the county.

Commissioner Michael Sinegal said acquisitions also give the county an opportunity to continue trying to entice people to come back to the area, instead of creating more open space.

“I’ve been saying, especially in my precinct, I can’t afford to lose population,” he said.

As a result, the Commissioners Court tabled the conversation to a later meeting in hope that residents who might be interested in such a program will share their opinions.

Commissioners in early November approved a contract with Griffith, Moseley, Johnson & Associates should the county choose to take either action.

Should the county pursue either program, the contractor will have to meet with and inform landowners of the process and any offers from the county. It also would be expected to determine relocation benefits for eligible tenants.